Storm sash



C. H. HUCKE July 25, 1950 STORM SASH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15,1947 INVENTOR CHARLES H. HUCKE FIG.-

ATTORNEY c. H. HUCKE STORM SASI-I July 25, 1950 2 Sheecs-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 15, 1947 INVENTOR 20 CHARLES H. HUCKE ATTORNEY III'IIIII'I. 7

Patented July 25, 1950 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE STORM SASH CharlesH. Hucke, St. Louis, Mo. Application November 15, 1947, Serial No.786.281 3 Claims. (01. 160-4210) This invention relates generally towindow structures and more specifically toso-called storm sashes whichare adapted for application to window str'uctureswhere additionalprotection is required to meet conditions of severe cold weather, thepredominant object of the invention being to provide a storm sashstructure which is of such improved'construction and arrangement that itmay be associated with a window structure, or removed from suchassociation, in .asim-. ple and convenient manner, and wholly fromwithin a room, without the use of tools or the possession of anymechanical'aptitude on thepart of a person performing the task.

Fig. 1 is an inside elevational view of a window structure havingthe'improved storm sash structure'of the present invention appliedthereto, portions of the window sashes of the window structure beingbroken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical'section takenon line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged; fragmentary vertical sectiontaken'on line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged,1fragmentary horizontal section taken. on lined-'4of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of a portion of theimproved storm sash structure of the present invention.

F g- 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig.5. J v

Fig. '7 is an enlarged. fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken online l---! of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectionalview showingv a modified form ofthe-invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical. sectional viewof a window. screen which maybeincorporated as a part of the improved structure of the presentinvention.

In the drawings, whereinare shown for pure poses of illustration;merely, two embodiments of the invention, A designates. in Figs. 1 and2. a window structure generally. The illustrated window structure Aincludes a suitable frame 13 which comprises side, top and bottommembers C, D- and E, an-inner sill F,,an outer sill G, and the usualinside trim The frame B" supports an upper sash J and a-lower. sash K,these sashes being adapted for vertical slidingmoveme f t relative tothe window frame in the usual manner in guideways provided 'by thewindow. frame.

The improved storm sash structure S of the present invention. comprisesa pair of sashes, there being an upper storm sash l and a lower stormsash .2. The storm sashes l and 2 areiof rectangular construction, eachof said storm sashes. comprising'a franiamadeup of opposed side members3 and top and bottom members 4 and 5, the bottom member 5 of the upperstorm sash l and the top member 4 of the lower sash 2 comprising meetingrails which abut against joint between the meeting rails provided by thebottom'and top members of the. upper and lower 1 storm sashes so as toexclude moisture from said joint. 7 The upper and lower storm sashes oftheimproved storm sash structure of the present invention are connectedtogether by a pair of coil springs 1 which are located at oppositesides'of I the storm sash structure and inwardly thereof. The upper endsof the coil springs I are engaged by hook-shaped elements 8 which areanchored to the opposed side members of the upper storm sash, while thelower ends of said coil springs are engagedby hook-shaped elements 9which project outwardly from plates IU' that are secured to the opposedside members of the plates Hlhaving offset lower storm sash, these Ilower portions H which provide finger grips adapted to facilitatehandling of the lower storm sash when same is being introduced into, orremoved from, its operative position relative to the window structure A.The coil springs are stretched when being applied to the hook-shapedelements 8 and 9 and therefore said coil springs are maintained undertension when the storni sash structure is in its assembled condition; As5 a result of this situation the abutting faces of the meeting rails ofthe upper and lower-storm sashes are drawn'into close contact by thecoil springs so as to provide a tight joint between said meeting rails.

When the stormsash structure Sof the present" invention is disposedinits effective position reia tive to a window structure, it isdisposedwithin theouteri portion of the frame B" of said window structure, asshown to" good advantage in Fig. 2.

When so located a face portion of the t'op mem ber ofthe upper'storm'sash contactswith an ele ment E2 of the window structure frame Bwhile" face portions of the opposed side members-of the upper and lowerstorm sashes contact-withopposed side elements l3 of the windowstructure frame which are related to said element i2. Also;v

a face'portion' of theibottom member 'of thelow'er' storm sash contactswith an outer face of the bottom member E of the window structure frameB.

Secured to the element 12 at the top of the window structure frame B isa pair of elements M which are of angular formation as is shown to goodadvantage in Fig. 3, a horizontally extended leg of each of saidelements Hi being secured by suitable fastening devices to said elementI2 at the lower face thereof, and an integral vertical leg of eachelement l4 being ex tended downwardly from said horizontal leg thereof.The top member of the upper storm sash I has fixed thereto a pair offriction devices [5 which cooperate with the elements 14 in a manner tosupport the upper storm sash l in its elevated position relative to thewindow structure frame while the storm sash structure is beinginstalled. Each of the devices i5 comprises a strip of inherentlyresilient material which is shaped in plan as is shown in Fig. i; thatis to say said strip of material is provided with opposed flanges l6that are secured to the top member of the upper storm sash by suitablefastening devices. Projected from the inner ends of the flanges 16 areinclined, outwardly extended walls ll that are joined by a bridgeportion 18, and extended inwardly and downwardly from the top edge ofsaid bridge portion i8 is an integral, spring tongue l9.

When the upper storm sash is being installed in place it is movedupwardly in its proper position within the window structure frame, andas the upper storm sash approaches its ultimate elevated position withinthe window structure frame the vertical legs of the elements M arecaused to be projected into the devices [6 with the result that thespring tongues 19 of said devices i5 forcibly engage said vertical legsof said elements 14. Thus, because of the pressure exerted by the springtongues [9 of the devices i5 against the vertical legs of the elementsl4, the upper storm sash is supported in its elevated position so thatthere is no need for fastening or attempting to hold it in such positionwhile the lower storm sash is being installed.

The improved storm sash structure of the present invention includes,also, means for support ing the upper storm sash I when the storm sashstructure has been completely installed in place relative to a windowstructure. This means comprises a pair of bracket members 20 which aresecured to the opposite side elements l3 of the window structure frameB. Each of the bracket members 20 comprises a flat plate portion 2!which is arranged in contact with a face of one of the opposed sideelements 13, said plate portion having vertically extended slots 22formed therein through which the shanks of screws 26a are extended, saidscrews being screwed into the element l3 to which the bracket member isanchored and the heads of the screws being drawn into tight, grippingcontact with the outer face of the plate portion 2| (Figs. 5 and 6) Eachbracket member includes a web 23 which extends outwardly from the plateportion thereof, and the horizontal top edge portion of this web isshaped to provide an outwardly curved lip 24. Also, the plate portion ofeach bracket member is provided at its lower end with a lateralextension 25 which may be tapped by a hammer or other suitableinstrument when the bracket member is being installed so as to locatethe bracket member at its proper elevation.

Cooperating with the bracket member 20 is a pair of latching elements 26which are supported by the upper storm sash I. Each latching element 26comprises a member having a horizontal extension 2'! from which avertical extension 28 is extended upwardly, the latching element beingsupported by the upper storm sash for pivotal movement by a screw 29which extends through an opening formed through the upper portion of thevertical extension thereof and is screwed into the upper sash. Eachlatching member 26 includes, also, an extension 30 which is projecteddownwardly from the horizontal extension 21 in vertical alinement withthe upwardly projected extension 28, this downwardly projected extensionbein offset outwardly so as to be provided at its top with a horizontalwall portion 3| (Fig. 6) which joins said extension 3|] with the mainbody of the latching element 26. The lower portion 32 of the downwardlyprojected extension 30 of each latching element 26 is bent inwardly, asin shown in Fig. 6, and, also, each latching element is provided with anoutwardly extended finger grip 26' which facilitates rotary actuation ofsaid latching element. Additionally, each latching element 26 isprovided with an upper pair of spaced flanges 33 that extend outwardlyfrom the extension 28, and a lower pair of similar spaced flanges 34that extend outwardly from the extension 30. The upper and lower spacedflanges are alined vertically with each other when the latching elementsare in their normal latching positions and the coil springs I,previously referred to herein, extend between the flanges of said pairsof flanges, as is shown in Fig. 1.

When the upper storm sash I is being introduced in place with respect toa window structure, the latching elements are-moved to the positionindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The upper storm sash is then movedupwardly in its proper position within the window structure frame untilthe vertical legs of the elements 14 extend into the devices l5 of saidupper storm sash whereby the upper storm sash is frictionally retainedin place. With the upper storm sash held in its proper position relativeto the window structure frame, the latching elements are moved to theirnormal positions where the horizontal wall portions 3| of said latchingelements engage and rest upon the lips 24 of the bracket members 20(Fig. 6). storm sash is positively latched in its proper elevatedposition by the cooperation of the latching elements and the bracketmembers, so that tight contact is made between the upper edge of saidupper storm sash and a related portion of the window structure frame.Attention is directed to the fact that the bent portions 32 of thelatching elements 26 are adapted to abut against edges 23 of the webs 23of the bracket members to arrest rotary movement of said latchingelements when they have reached their normal positions. Also, becausethe coil springs I extend between the flanges 33 and 34 of the latchingelements 26,

said latching elements are held against accidental rotary movement whenthe upper and lower storm sashes are in place and the coil springs 'lare associated therewith.

The lower storm sash 2 is provided at its top with an element 35 thatextends longitudinally of the upper horizontal rail of said lower stormsash, and fixed to this element 35, preferably at the longitudinalcenter thereof, is a safety guide 36. This safety guide is shaped incross-section as is shown in Fig.7 wherein it is shown as being providedwith angularly related portions 31 Thus, the upper which contact withthe topand outer faces of said element 35 and ashaving an upwiardlyexfitended portion 38, the upwardly extended por tion 38 of thesafety'guide' 3 6 conta'c'ting'with a plate 39 which is secured tothelowermeeting with the lower meeting rail of the upper storm sashpreventing such accidental outward move ment of the upper portion of thelower storm sash.

The storm sash structure of the present invention includes lockingdevices 40 for locking the upper and lower storm sashes in position withrespect to the window structure frame B. These locking devices may be ofany suitable type which will draw said storm sashes into tight lateralengagement with the parts of the window structure frame with which saidstorm sashes contact, one type of locking device which is well adaptedfor this purpose being the locking device disclosed in an applicationfor patent filed in my name on February 16, 1946, Serial No. 648,175.Also, if desired the lower storm sash may have swingably associatedtherewith an elongated hook 4| which may be employed to retain the lowerstorm sash in an open position at its bottom for ventilating purposes,as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

An important feature of the storm sash structure of the presentinvention is that a full-length storm sash may be converted into one ofthe improved sash structures by sawing the full-length storm sash inhalf to provide an upper and a lower storm sash. When this is done theintermediate horizontal rail of the full-length storm sash is sawedlongitudinally so as to provide the two resultant storm sashes withmeeting rails, and the drip mold 6 is secured to the upper storm sash soproduced so that it will overlap the joint between said meeting rails,as has been previously explained herein and as is shown in Fig. 2. Whena full-length storm sash is cut in half to produce the improved stormsash structure, the meeting rails of the storm sashes la and 2a. 50produced may be prepared as shown in Fig. 6. In accordance with theshowing of this view the meeting rail of the upper storm sash la mayhave secured to its lower edge a strip of material 42 which extendsthroughout the entire area of said lower edge, said strip of materialhaving a drip mold 43 associated therewith. Also, the top edge of themeeting rail of the lower storm sash may have fixed thereto a strip ofmaterial 44 that extends throughout the entire area of said top edge,this strip of material 46 having associated therewith an element 45which corresponds to the element 35 heretofore referred to herein andillustrated to good advantage in Fig. 2.

It; is obvious that during periods of warm weather the lower storm sash2 of the improved storm sash structure may be replaced by a windowscreen 46 (Fig. 9). The window screen 46 is constructed in accordancewith the lower storm sash of the storm sash structure except that it isprovided with screening instead of a pane of glass.

From the foregoing it is plain that the storm sash structure of thepresent invention is light in weight and of simple construction so thatit may be installed or removed quickly and easily without the needfortools-or mechanical skill on'" the part of the person performingtheoperation.

Also, the improved storm sash structure maybe v installed or removedentirely'from within a room,

thus eliminating the need for the climbing of ladders on the outside ofa building.-

I claim:

The combination with a window structure" having a window frame adaptedto support win dow sash means, of an auxiliary protective meanscomprising upper and lower sash-like members arranged within an outerportion of said'window frame in vertical alinement, saidsash-likemembers having meeting rails that 'are disposed in abutting relation, apair of coil springs disposed adjacent to opposite side edges of saidsash-like members and connected at their opposite ends to the respectivesash-like members, said coil springs being adapted to draw abuttingedges of said meeting rails of said sash-like members into closecontact, and means for supporting said upper sash-like member relativeto said window frame, said supporting means comprising a pair ofelements supported for pivotal movement by said upper sash-like memberat opposite sides thereof, and a pair of bracket members that are fixedto said window frame at opposite sides thereof, the pivotally supportedelement at each side of said upper sash-like member being adapted formovement into engagement with the bracket means at the correspondingside of the window frame for supporting said upper sashlike member, andspaced projections formed on said pivotally supported elements betweenwhich said coil springs are extended.

2. The combination with a window structure having a window frame adaptedto support window sash means, of an auxiliary protective meanscomprising upper and lower sash-like members arranged within an outerportion of said window frame in vertical alinement, said sash-likemembers having meeting rails that are disposed in abutting relation, apair of coil springs disposed adjacent to opposite side edges of saidsash-like members and connected at their opposite ends to the respectivesash-like members, said coil springs being adapted to draw abuttingedges of said meeting rails of said sash-like members into close contactand means for supporting said upper sash-like member relative to saidwindow frame, said supporting means comprising a pair of elementssupported for pivotal movement by said upper sash-like member atopposite sides thereof, and a pair of bracket members that are fixed tosaid window frame at Opposite sides thereof, the pivotally supportedelement at each side of said upper sash-like member being adapted formovement into engagement with the bracket means at the correspondingside of the window frame for supporting said upper sash-like memher, andspaced outstanding projections formed on said pivotally supportedelements between which said coil springs are extended.

3. The combination with a window structure having a window frame adaptedto support window sash means, of an auxiliary protective meanscomprising upper and lower sash-like members arranged within an outerportion of said window frame in vertical alinement, said sash-likemembers having meeting rails that are disposed in abutting relation, apair of coil springs disposed adjacent to opposite side edges of saidsashlike members and connected at their opposite ends to the respectivesash-like members, said coil springs being adapted to draw abuttingedges of said meeting rails of said sash-like members v into closecontact and means for supporting said upper sash-like member relative tosaid window frame, said supporting means comprising a pair of elementssupported for pivotal movement by said upper sash-like member atopposite sides thereof, and a pair of bracket members that are fixed tosaid window frame at opposite sides thereof, the pivotaily supportedelement at each side of said upper sash-like member being adapted formovement into engagement with the bracket means at the correspondingside of the window frame for supporting said upper sash-like memher,andpairs of vertically alined and horizontally spaced projections formedon said pivotaliy supported elements between which said coil springs areextended.

7 CHARLES H. HUCKE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Oswald Apr. 3, 1945Number

